While we wish we could, we just can’t be there to clean every one of your houses. But what we CAN do is guide you through the process of choosing a house cleaning company in your area. 

Where to look:

Word of mouth is the best way to find a reliable cleaner! Ask your neighbors or your local Facebook page; it’s best to find someone who works in your neighborhood.

Things to consider:

• One of the first things you need to do when looking for a cleaning company is figure out what services you require and what your priority is. Do you want someone to come in and do light vacuuming, countertops and mopping? Or full-on scrubbing of every room in the house?
• What is your budget? 
• How often are you looking for someone to come to your home?
• Who provides the supplies? This is different for each company and will also depend on your preferences. Some companies prefer to use their own products and equipment, which is built into their pricing. They know what they like, what works and what their staff is trained to use. They might not deviate from this. If you prefer specialized products, it might be best for you to find a company that uses what you provide. That way, you are in control of all chemicals being used in your home.
• Timing. Most cleaning companies have windows of arrival and cannot commit to a time as some jobs take longer than others, and most clean more than one house daily. 

Questions to ask:

• How long have you been in operation?
• Are you licensed/insured? 
• How do you handle damage claims?
• Do you use your own cleaning products and tools or mine?
• Do you specialize in deep cleans or weekly/monthly cleans?
• How many people do you typically send?
• Do you bill by man hours or based on an estimate, and do you charge less for more frequent cleans?
• Can we do a walk-through to go over expectations and get an estimate?
• What can I expect from a regular household cleaning?
• Do you include an option for add-ons like fridge or oven cleaning?

Expectations:

Be clear in communicating what you need and expect, and be realistic about those expectations. If you have hired a crew of two for three hours and you live in a large home with kids and pets, chances are they can give each room a quick once-over but cannot deep clean your whole house in that amount of time. 

Perhaps you should develop a schedule with your cleaning team. One week, they do the bedrooms and the kitchen. Next week, they do bathrooms, living rooms, and common areas. Provide a detailed copy of the signed contract you agree to. Many clients will have us in once a year or once a season just to hit the reset button. If you are good at the in-between upkeep, maybe a yearly deep clean and quarterly cleaning would work for you. 

A typical house clean should include:

• Vacuuming or mopping all floors
• Kitchen: counters wiped down, appliance exteriors cleaned
• Full bathroom clean
• Bedroom: tidied, beds made
• Dusting
• Garbages emptied

Expect to pay more for:

• Full appliance cleans
• Walls or baseboards wiped
• Light fixtures cleaned

Communication:

This is a business relationship; you need to be able to communicate openly. You want to trust the people working in your home. From a cleaner’s perspective, your house is their workplace. They don’t know you, and they need to know they can trust you and feel safe working in your home. Don’t shy away from utilizing home security devices like video and audio. They will protect both your home and your team of cleaners. 

If it doesn’t work out:

Cleaning is hard, emotional labor, and not being treated with respect is why I have ended most business relationships, not because the house was too dirty. So please treat your hired cleaning team with the respect they deserve.

Sometimes relationships don’t work out and that is okay. You may have different levels of expectations or you simply might not vibe with each other. Either party can initiate this breakup. Move on and keep searching for the perfect fit. The right cleaner for your needs is out there! Don’t let this hiccup get you down.

Best of luck finding the right team!

Sarah McAllister